[The] announcement comes as new analysis shows that the UK could be on course for a record low in coal consumption in 2015, thanks to the UK government’s decarbonisation drive, EU air pollution rules and falling gas prices. Department for Energy and Climate Change projections show an end to coal use for electricity generation by 2023 if low gas prices persist, and in February the three main political parties signed a joint pledge promising the complete phase out the use of unabated coal-fired power. With a growing body of evidence showing how getting out of coal will protect the lives of UK citizens, shield the country from an increasingly volatile coal market, and help it meet its target of reducing emissions by 80% by 2050, on 1990 levels, there is little argument left for continued investment in this dirtiest of energy sources…

Key Points

*Coal is on the decline in the UK. Today, energy operator SSE announced it would close its Ferrybridge coal-fired power station in West Yorkshire, one of the UK’s 10 remaining coal plants, citing rising costs and the need for the UK to “phase out coal as it moves towards a more sustainable energy mix”. The announcement comes as new analysis shows that the UK could be on course for a record low in coal consumption in 2015, with use expected to fall to levels last seen during the industrial revolution.